This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: native Goldenrod

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area Plant Sales (plant sales & swaps- plants, native plants, tree & shrub seedings + seed swaps) here’s a page for them. No additions this week, just deleted past events.

Fall Color Reports. Missouri and Illinois

November 15th Deadline for Grade Schools to High Schools, Youth Groups, Community Groups with youth programs, to apply for Wild Ones’ Lorrie Otto Seeds for Education Program Grants: native plant use in pollinator gardens, rain gardens to improve water quality, tallgrass prairies, Monarch waystations featuring community science activities, and sensory and natural playgrounds.

Plan your garden with Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Good Reads —

One of the rarest trees in the world- Karomia gigas – is on display at MoBot’s Arid House. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and St. Louis County residents mornings on Saturdays and Wednesdays. (KSDK)

Health and farmworker advocates urge ban of herbicide linked to Parkinson’s. EPA will determine next year if the herbicide, paraquat dichloride, should have its license renewed for another 15 years. (Missouri Independent)

Scientists just figured out how many chemicals enter our bodies from food packaging. A new study details the chemicals finding their way into human bodies from contact with food. (Gift article @ Washington Post)

Residents worry Ameren gas plant in St. Louis County will be expensive, dirty (paywall St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Why ‘chaos wheat’ may be the future of bread. It’s time to look beyond all-purpose flour (Gift article @ Washington Post)

A turtle and its advocates could stand in the way of a huge Pearl River engineering project in Mississippi (Louisiana Illuminator)

Elon Musk’s New AI Data Center in Memphis Raises Alarms Over Pollution (Time)

Arctic Seed Vault Shows Flawed Logic of Climate Adaptation. The difficulties illustrate why we need to prevent climate disaster rather than plan for it. In 2017, the vault suffered a flood caused, ironically, by climate change. (Scientific American)

Some Sports v. Nature News. Once Again, a Lizard Interrupts Singapore Grand Prix Weekend. It appears Singapore’s monitor lizards are getting faster as this year’s party crasher is chased down the track by the marshals. (Road & Track)

Seed Saving Class available on YouTube (Seed St. Louis)

Winter Cover Crops for St. Louis Area. Cover crops are any plant that you grow not to harvest but for some other benefit like weed suppression, mulch production, soil improvement, beneficial insect support, etc. (Seed St. Louis)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

Missouri Native Plant Top 10 Lists (Grow Native) Native Plants for Children, Poorly Drained Clay Soil, Sun, Shade, Half Sun & Half Shade, Under Utility Poles, Rain Gardens, Kitchen Gardens, Bees, Pollinators in Winter, Hummingbirds, Wildlife, Butterflies, More

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events —

Thursday, September 26th Order Deadline: Brightside St. Louis Blooming Spring Daffodil & Tulip Sale. 30 bulbs for $17. Carlton Daffodils; Midwest Mix Daffodils, 5 each Carlton, Barrett Browning, Pink Charm, Slim Whitman, Tahiti, Suada; Brightside Red Hybrid Darwin Tulips; Pink Impression Tulips. Pick up 11 am to 4 pm October 11th and 9 am to Noon October 12th at Forest Park Greenhouse. Orders to be shipped will be sent the week of October 7th.

Going on Now- On Line Ordering for Missouri Conservation Department annual Tree & Shrub Seedling Sale. Don’t delay. Items are selling out fast, such as Beautyberry, Blackberry, Concordia Oak, Flowering Dogwood, Hazelnut, PawPaw, Spicebush.

For crafty gardeners. Virtual Class 1 of 12. 5 pm Monday, September 23rd, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: 2024 Swamp Needlers, Wildflowers. Learn simple, but beautiful, embroidery techniques while exploring some iconic, as well as secretive wildflowers in Missouri. Complete 17 blocks, to create a large quilt with enough extras for pillows or wall art. Register

6 pm Monday, September 23rd, St. Louis County Public Library craft event at Bridgeton Trails Branch: Paint Night- DIY “Welcome” Garden Flag. Register

10 am to 5 pm Wednesday, September 25th, Missouri Botanical Garden event @ Little Shop Around the Corner (resell store), 4474 Castleman: Clearance Sale

2 pm Wednesday, September 25th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Monarch Magic. Register

4 pm Wednesday, September 25th, Grow Native Webinar: Prairie Reconstruction at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center. Register

3:30-6:30 pm Thursday, September 26th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Native Plant Sale, Crestwood.

5:30 pm Thursday, September 26th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: The Marvels of Biomimicry – Part 2. Register

6 pm Thursday, September 26th, St. Louis Public Library class at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series with Jessica Ely, St. Louis Carnivorous Plant Society. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, September 27th, Mid-Continent Public Library (Kansas City) Zoom Class: Monarch Mania. Register

4 Seats remaining. 1 pm Friday, September 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Hummingbirds. Register

3:30 pm Friday, September 27th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Fall Maintenance for Your Native Garden. Register

5:30-7:30 pm Friday, September 27th, Bellefontaine Cemetery Fundraiser: Beer Barons 2024, Barons of Beer and Distilling Chapter IV. Tickets $30.

7 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 28th, Missouri Conservation Department Women’s Free Fishing Day at Bennett Spring Park. No license or tag required. Bennett Spring is in Laclede and Dallas Counties about a 3-hour drive from Kansas City or St. Louis.

Saturday-Sunday, September 28th-29th Tower Grove Pride at Tower Grove Park

Volunteers Wanted. 8 am Saturday, September 28th, Heartlands Conservancy Monarch Tagging & Stewardship @ at Arlington Wetlands, Granite City IL. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, September 28th, Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings. Not a sale.

10 am Saturday, September 28th, St. Louis County Public Library Autumn Plants & More Swap at Oak Bend Branch. Bring plants, seeds, bulbs, tools, books, gardening supplies to swap with fellow gardeners. Plants should be divided, brought in containers, and labeled.

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, September 28th, Missouri Botanical Garden and Missouri Conservation Department Wild about Nature Festival at Shaw Nature Reserve, Gray Summit, Franklin County MO. Fee: MoBot Members- $5 Adults, Free for Children; Nonmembers $7 Adults, $3 for children. Tickets

1 pm Saturday, September 28th, St. Louis County Public Library Plant Swap at Grand Glaize Branch, Manchester.

1:30 pm Saturday, September 28th, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Fall Tour. Register

4-7 pm Saturday, September 28th, Forest ReLeaf Fundraiser at their Nursery and Arboretum in Creve Coeur Park, St. Louis County: 10th Annual ArborMeisters Homebrew + Craft Beer Festival. Tickets start at $40.

9 am to 1 pm Sunday, September 29th, Metropolitan Parks & Rec Tax District (dba Great Rivers Greenway) Bridge Boogie at Chain of Rocks Park

1:30 pm October 1st, Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Fall Tour. Register

6 pm October 2nd St. Louis Public Library event at Schlafly Library: Insights from Experts Nature Series- Mark Glenshaw of Forest Park Owls. Register

October 4-6 Best of Missouri Market at Missouri Botanical Garden: Missouri Wildflowers Nursery is a vendor. Buy from what the bring or order online for pick up at event. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Saturday and Wednesday mornings.

6 pm October 4th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Conservation Nature Center, Kirkwood: WildHeart Concert and Scout/Family Event

9 am October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

12 Seats remaining. 10 am October 5th Missouri Conservation Department event at Howard Wood Urban Outreach Office, Southwest Garden: Nature Crocheters Fall Fun! Register

6:30-9 pm October 5th The Garden Shop’s Sip & Soil, Fall Edition. Tickets $45 includes houseplant of your choosing, 6″ planter, supplies to paint, and at least two Fall themed cocktails

Noon October 8th University of Illinois Extension Webinar, Thriving Communities series: Current Funding Opportunities for Energy and the Environment Explore grants available for community environmental projects. Register

10 am October 8th Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

6:30 pm October 8th Piasa Palisades Sierra Club event at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: Missouri Stream Team program. Register

9 am October 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery tour with Horticulturist: Fall Tree Walk. Register

1:30 pm October 9th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Fall Tour. Register

4 pm October 9th Grow Native Zoom Class: Native Ferns in Missouri and their Potential as Specialty Crops. Register

5 pm October 9th Missouri Conservation Department Online Class: Native Yards, Getting Started. Register

October 10th-12th University of Missouri @ St. Louis Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability Event Series, The Buffalo Treaty

6 pm October 10th Seed St. Louis event at DIG Annuals and Perennials, Benton Park West: Food for Years- Best Perennial Vegetables for a Fall & Winter Harvest. Register

9 am October 10th Heartlands Conservancy event in Belleville IL: Volunteer Training- Native Seed Collection. Register

Volunteers Wanted. 9 am October 11th Heartlands Conservancy event in Edwardsville IL: Poag Sand Prairie Restoration Volunteer Day. Register

9 am to 1 pm October 12th Seed St. Louis, Forrest Keeling Nursery, Greenscape Gardens event in Manchester: Tree Sale & Fall Festival

10 am October 12th Bellefontaine Cemetery History and Horticulture Tour with Master Guide: Trolley Tour. $5. Register

11 am to 1 pm October 12th, St. Charles Public Library event at Spencer Road Branch, St. Peter’s: Plant & Seed Swap

2 pm October 12th Missouri Botanical Garden event: Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability, The Buffalo Treaty collaborative event series, two presentations. 1) Keystone Species & Sovereignty = Rejuvenation, Innovation and Wonder, presented by Jonny BearCub Stiffarm, JD (Assinaboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana). 2) The Ecological Buffalo: On the Trail of a Keystone Species, a talk and book-signing with author Wes Olson and photographer Johane Janelle. Garden Admission fee required. Event is free with Garden Admission but Registration required by October 10th.

6:30 pm October 15th St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Houseplants 101. Register

6 pm October 17th St. Louis County Public Library event at Prairie Commons Branch, Hazelwood: Succulent Swap. Register

10 am October 19th St. Louis County Public Library event at Meramec Valley Branch, Fenton: Houseplant Swap. Register

Noon to 4 pm October 19th Benton Park Neighborhood Association’s Benton Park Tunes on Tap – A Musical Garden Tour. Tickets $35-$65

Noon October 20th Missouri Prairie Foundation event in Lincoln County MO: Friends of Cuivre River State Park Grasslands Work Day. Register

6 pm October 21st St. Louis Public Library event at Machacek Library: Carnivorous Plants presentedby Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society. Register

28 Seats remaining. 5:30 pm October 28th St. Louis Public Library event at Central Library: Cacti & Succulents- A Beginner’s Guide to Thriving Plants. Register

4 pm November 6th Missouri Invasive Plant Council Webinar: Common General Use Herbicides & How They Relate to Aquatic Use Sites. Register

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Liatris, Gayfeathers

St. Louis Gardeners: Growing more veggies than you can eat? Drop off weekly by Noon Monday-Tuesday at The Garden Shop on Hampton. There’s a table for donated produce. Donated veggies go to Growing Food, Growing People

Plan your garden with 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

St. Louis Post-Dispatch Garden Contest

Check out the Butterfly Gardens at St. Louis Public Library branches

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Plant Sales & Swaps, here’s a page for them.

Thursday, June 20th, Deadline for your community organization to apply for Brightside St. Louis Neighbors Naturescaping Program to beautify a public or not-for-profit space, restore Missouri native plant communities, attract beneficial wildlife (butterflies, bees, birds), reduce stormwater runoff and protect drinking water

July 15th Deadline to nominate a tree steward for Missouri Conservation Department Arbor Award of Excellence

August 31st Deadline to Enter Missouri Conservation Department’s Busch Conservation Area (St. Charles Mo) Wildlife Photography Contest. Submit photos of native Mo wildlife, trees, plants at Busch Conservation Area or Weldon Spring Conservation Area.

September 1st Deadline to Enter Missouri Department of Natural Resources Photography Contest. Submit photos of Natural Resources, Unique Places (state parks, historic sites), People Enjoying Outdoors

Good Reads/Views —

Oral History Project Preserves Black and Indigenous Food Traditions. The Heirloom Gardens Project records the stories of elders and honors both long-held expertise and culturally meaningful foods. (Civil Eats)

This word was rejected by geologists. But it’s already taken over the world. Yet for many activists, artists, and academics outside of geology, the Anthropocene, or “Age of Humans,” is here to stay. Gift article (Washington Post)

(YouTube)Tomato Trellising: 4 Methods (Seed St. Louis)

Dealing with Squash Bugs in a No Spray Garden and Advice on Squash Bugs from Missouri Botanical Garden

Container Gardening Tips
Native Plants: Grow Native!
Veggies: Missouri Botanical Garden
5 Tips For Successfully Growing Plants In Containers: P. Allen Smith

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events —

Noon Monday, June 17th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Folklore of Birds. Register

9 am to 5 pm Wednesday, June 19th, Missouri Botanical Garden Juneteenth at the Garden: Ethiopian Book Binding presentation, Pot-A-Plant, “In the Garden with Dr. Carver,” more. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10 am Thursday, June 20th, Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Water for the Garden. Register

For Kids 0-7 years. 7 Seats remaining. 10:30 am Thursday, June 20th, Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park: You and Me under the Canopy- Twinkle Firefly. Register

For Kids 7-14 years. 2 pm Thursday, June 20th, St. Louis County Library event at Oak Bend Branch: Summer Science- Explore the science of plants with guided, hands-on activities and experiments. Register

5:30-7:30 Thursday, June 20th, Feed the People Garden Project event at 3964 Walsh, Bevo Neghborhood: Queers in the Garden.. No gardening experience necessary. Stop by for community building, learning garden skills, harvesting food, have fun.

6 pm Thursday, June 20th, Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Vermicomposting, aka Worm Composting. $12. Register

6:30 pm Thursday, June 20th, St. Louis County Library class at Mid-County Branch: Harvesting & Preserving Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register

7 pm Thursday, June 20th, Missouri Conservation Department Virtual Class: Folklore of Birds Part 2. Register

5:30-7:30 pm Friday, June 21st, Bellefontaine Cemetery event: Beer Barons 2024: Barons of Beer and Distilling Chapter III. $30. Register

3 Ticckets remaining. 7:30 pm Friday, Junes 21st, Missouri Conservation Department event at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area, St. Louiis County: Summer Solstice Walk to the Confluence. Register

9 am to 5 pm Saturday, June 22nd, Kimmswick Visitor Center Daylily Sale, Jefferson County Mo

9 am to to 5 pm Saturday-Sunday, June 22-23, St. Louis Water Garden Society Pond-O-Rama Tour

10 am to 3 pm Saturday, June 22nd, University of Missouri Extension Butterfly Festival at Jefferson Farm & Garden, Columbia MO

1 pm Saturday, June 22nd, St. Louis City Public Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading– Chicken Tending 101

5 Seats remaining. 8 pm Saturday, June 22nd, Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Owl Prowl. Register

11 am to 1 pm June 23rd Piasa Sierra Club event at La Vista Park, Godfrey, IL: Pollinator Party. Register

2 pm June 25th St. Louis County Library class at Eureka Hills Branch: Cooking with Herbs. Presented by St. Louis Herb Society. Register.

9 am June 26th Tower Grove Park event at Lily Pond Shelter: Water Plants of Tower Grove Park. Presented by Horticulture Supervisor, Steve Hogenmiller, and Community Engagement Manager, Tara Morton. Register

2 pm June 26th Tower Grove Park event: Nee Kee Nee (East Stream) Tour. Register

5:30 pm June 27th Belleftonaine Cemetery event: Sunset Stroll. Register

6:30 June 28th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Planting Native, presented by horticulturist Scott Woodbury + tour of the native plant gardens at the nature center. Register

June 30th Greater St. Louis Sustainable Backyard Tour

6 pm July 2nd St. Louis County Library Indoor Plant Swap at Prairie Commons Branch

4 pm July 3rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Native Bees of Missouri’s Ozark Woodlands and Glades. Register

2 pm July 6th St Louis County Library In-Person Class at Mid-County Branch: Planning Your Tea Garden. Register

July 20st-22nd Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale, St. Louis County

1 pm June 29th St. Louis City Publiuc Library event at Buder Library: Urban Homesteading- Advanced Chicken Tending

2 pm July 11th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Library Zoom Class: Fall Gardening. Register

7:30 pm July 13th St. Louis Astronomical Society Stargazing at Tower Grove Park

6 pm July 18th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Compost Tumblers. $12. Register

7 Tickets remaining. 10 am to 2 pm July 20th Missouri Department of Conservation Camp Hellbender, Summer Camp for Adults at Tower Grove Park: learn tree ID and put new skills to the test on a tree ID geocaching adventure. After lunch, learn about native plants and insects and do a flower pounding craft. Register

6 pm July 29th St. Louis County Library & Left Banks Book author event at Clark Family Branch: Nature Writer Amy Stewart, Author of “The Tree Collectors: Tales of Arboreal Obsession.” Register

9 am to 5 pm August 3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Iris Sale at at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

August 10th Seed St. Louis Fall Seedling Sale

6 pm August 15th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Bokashi . $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm August 17th Missouri Botanical Garden Daylily Association Plant Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

10-11:30 am August 17th Homegrown Hot Sauce Class with Urban Harvest’s Chef Queenie at Rung, Fox Park. Register

Noon to 5 pm August 18th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission fee required.

August 24th Soulard’s Art in the Garden Tour fundraiser for Beautification Committee, Soulard Restoration Group

3-7 pm September 6th Shaw Nature Reserve Fall Wildflower Market

9 am to 5 pm September 7th Gateway West Gesneriad Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

September 13th, 14th, 15th Kirkwood Greentree Festival at Kirkwood Park. Greater St. Louis Daffodil Society sells Daffodil bulbs at this event.

6 pm September 19th Willoughby Farm, Table to Garden, Seed St. Louis In Person Composting Series, Collinsville IL: Static Systems . $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm September 28th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

September 22nd Bring Conservation Home Native Plant Expo at Tower Grove Park

October 5th Seed St. Louis Garlic Sale

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Two photos of Lanceleaf Coreopsis: Winter view, leaves. Summer view, yellow flowers.

Plant of the Week: Lanceleaf Coreopsis

If you are only looking for St. Louis Area (Missouri and Illinois) Seed Swaps and Plant Sales, here’s a page for them. Plant Sales Added this week: Daylily, Gesneriad, Iris, Orchid

Start Indoors This Week: Cauliflower, Collards, Chard, Kale, Kohlrabi, Parsley
Plan your garden with NEW 2024 Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Gardening by Month: February from Missouri Botanical Garden: Gardening Tips, Tasks, & Problems. In February, sow seeds of larkspur, sweet peas, poppies, and snapdragons outdoors.

Order your Grow Native! Free Resource Guide to Native Plants in Missouri– products, services, institutions

Keep Up To Date on Missouri Environmental Legislation at Missouri Coalition for the Environment’s Bill Tracker

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

Good Reads —

Advice on preventing your Corn Plants (Dracaena) from turning brown on the tips (P. Allen Smith)

Seed Libraries in Missouri– did not find any in St. Louis City

Pet waste left to wash into the soil can spread life-threatening parasites, so disposing of it properly is key. Gift article (Washington Post)

Ospreys on the Chicago River? There’s a push to build high perches where eagles now fly. Volunteers want to build an osprey perch at Horner Park in hopes of enticing a male to nest there and look for a mate. It’s part of a decade-long effort to restore the park’s ecosystem. (Block Club Chicago)

Fascinating article on Cork Oak. This ancient material is displacing plastics and creating a billion-dollar industry. Gifted article (Washington Post)

Illinois Native Plants for the Home Landscape

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events

Now thru Feb 25th at Missouri Botanical Garden: Orchid Show. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings

9 am to 3 pm Saturday, February 10th, Eagle Days at Audubon Center @ Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri). Register

Volunteers Wanted. 10 am to 1 pm Saturday, February 10th, Friends of Belleview Farm Park: Honeysuckle Removal Workday, St. Louis County. Also see

1 pm Saturday, February 10th, St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. 33 Seats remaining. Register.

6 pm February 12th Missouri River Bird Observatory Zoom Winter Learning Series: Light Pollution and Birds presented by Travis Longcore, UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability. Register

2 pm February 13th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Virtual Class: Starting Seedlings. Register

5 pm February 13th Missouri Department of Conservation Zoom event: Introduction to Great Backyard Bird Count. Register. Also see Cornell Lab of Ornithology video on GBBC (YouTube)

6:30 pm February 13th Piasa Sierra Club Speaker Series at Old Bakery Beer, Alton IL: Alton Works National Parks Proposal presented by Kiku Obata. Register

9 to 11 am February 14th Black History Month event at Missouri Botanical Garden: Learn about Edmond Albius, who discovered the technique still used today to pollinate vanilla when he was 12 years old but was never compensated for his contribution to this multi-million-dollar industry. The Garden’s Education team will share his story with engaging activities and takeaways. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

4 pm February 14th Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Native Grassland Birds: Population Trends and Conservation. Register

February 15-16th Deep Roots Kansas City 2024 Plan It Native Landscapes Conference at Kauffman Foundation Conference Center, KC. $225. Register

9 am February 16th Missouri Department of Conservation In-Person event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Great Backyard Bird Count. 23 Seats remaining. Register. Also see Cornell Lab of Ornithology video on GBBC (YouTube)

February 17th Seed St. Louis Community Agriculture Conference. In-Person or Virtual. $10. Register

9:30 am February 19th Missouri Conservation Department In-Person event at Forest Park: Great Backyard Bird Count. 23 Tickets remaining. Register

7 pm February 20th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plants for Native Pollinators with Dr. Ed Spevak, St. Louis Zoo. Register

9 am February 21st Black History Month at Missouri Botanical Garden. Tyrean “Heru” Lewis of Heru Urban Farming will share his latest endeavors to further his mission of transforming the community’s access to quality wholesome food. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

11 am February 21st Black History Month at Missouri Botanical Garden. Screening of High on the Hog, a documentary on the history of foods native to Africa and foods that came to the U.S. through the Transatlantic Slave Trade and are still part of our current food selections.  Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

2 pm February 21st Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Plant Gardening 101 with Erin Goss, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

6 pm February 22nd Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 1 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Eat Your Compost. $12. Register

3:30 pm February 23rd Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Planning and Prepping Your Garden. Register.

Ages 12+. 10 am February 24th Missouri Conservation Department event at Tower Grove Park, Stupp Center: Wildlife CSI- Conservation Scene Investigation. 16 seats remaining. Register

7 pm February 27th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: The Social Benefits of Trees with Rebecca Hankins, Forest ReLeaf of Missouri. Register

2 pm February 28th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native? Invasive? Exotic? Choose Eco-Logically with Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6-8 pm Wednesdays, February 28th-April 3rd Forest ReLeaf 6 Week TreeKeepers Introductory Course at Renewable Energy Center, Maryland Hts. Register

6 pm February 29th Seed St. Louis Zoom Class: So You Want to Start a Garden: Our Favorite Things, & What You Don’t Need. Register

10 am March 1st Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

9 am to Noon March 2nd Bellefontaine Cemetery Garage Sale

10 am March 5th Bellefontaine Cemetery History & Horticulture Trolley Tour. $5. Register

2 pm March 5th Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Library Webinar: Dormant Fruit Tree Pruning. Register

7 pm March 5th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Using iNaturalist in Your Garden with Dr. Nina Fogel, ShutterBee & Washington University. Register

10 am March 6th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

1 pm March 6th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Central Library: Alien Invasion! Plants with Betsy Alexander, Master Gardener from the Missouri Botanical Gardens Master Gardener Program. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

2 pm March 6th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with Seed St. Louis and St. Louis County Public Libraryt: Native Plant Food Gardening Panel– Dr. Nadia Navarrete Tindall, Lincoln University; Matt Lebon, Custom Foodscaping; Dean Gunderson , Seed STL; Moderator Jean Ponzi, Earthways Center. Register

6 pm March 7th 6 pm February 22nd Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 2 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Composting 101. $12. Register

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

9 am to Noon March 9th Seed St. Louis Plant Sale: Potatoes, Strawberries, Asparagus, Mushroom Spawn, Onions.

Noon March 9th Piasa Sierra Club Seed Swap at Milton Schoolhouse, Alton IL. Register

Noon March 12th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- The Mints- Fresh Breath for Pollinators. Register

7 pm March 12th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Kill Your Lawn for the Birds with Emily Connor, Audubon Riverlands and Dan Pearson, St. Louis Audubon. Register

10 am March 13th Bellefontaine Cemetery Springtime History & Horticulture Walking Tour. Register

Noon March 13th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom event: Native Plants- Planting for Hummingbirds. Register

2 pm March 13th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Container Gardening with Native Plants with Joan Klingensmith, Shaw Nature Reserve. Register

7 pm March 19th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Planning for Future Drought with Native Plants with Shannon Callahan – St. Louis Audubon. Register

2 pm March 20th Partners for Native Landscaping Zoom Speaker Series with St. Louis County Public Library: Native Landscaping for Butterflies & Moths with Chris Hartley, Sophia M. Sachs Butterfly House. Register

March 23rd Partners for Native Landscaping In-Person Workshop & Plant Sale, Maryland Heights Community Center

Noon March 24th St. Louis Audubon Society Beginner Bird Walk at Tower Grove Park. Register

6 pm March 28th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 3 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Pick Your System. $12. Register

Missouri Wildflowers Nursery returns to Kirkwood Market Saturdays 8 am – 4 pm April 6, 13, 20, 27 May 25 June 1 Order in advance for pick up at Market or select from what they bring

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

April 9-11 Missouri Native Grasslands Summit, Jefferson City. $75. Register

6 pm April 18th Table to Garden, Willoughby Heritage Farm, Seed St. Louis Class 4 of 4 core composting series at Willoughby Heritage Farm, Collinsville IL: Soil Health. $12. Register

9 am to 5 pm April 26th St. Louis Herb Society Herb Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden, parking lot

8:30 am to 12:30 pm May 4th Webster Groves Women’s Garden Association Plant Sale, First Congregational Church, Webster Groves

9 am to 1 pm May 4th Shaw Nature Reserve Wildflower Market

9 am to 5 pm May 4th West County Daylily Club Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm May 11th St. Louis Hosta Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm May 12th Greater St. Louis Iris Society Show at Missouri Botanical Garden

May 18th Wild Ones Illinois Prairie Chapter Native Plant Sale at Carlock, McLean County IL

9 am to 5 pm May 25th Metropolitan St. Louis African Violet Council Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 5 pm June 15th Carnivorous Plant Society Show and Sale at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

July 20st-22nd Shaw Cactus & Succulent Society Cactus & Succulent Sale, St. Louis County

9 am to 5 pm August 3rd Greater St. Louis Iris Society Iris Sale at at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Noon to 5 pm August 18th Orchid Society of Greater St. Louis Auction at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission fee required.

9 am to 5 pm September 28th Rose Society of Greater St. Louis Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden admission free to St. Louis City and County residents on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

Join us Sundays on Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.

This Week in Gardening & Nature

Plant of the Week: Goldenrod

Helpful Houseplant Gifting Guide from Missouri Botanical Garden

Poinsettia Care Advice from University of Missouri Extension

Registration Open for January 14th thru June 1st University of Missouri Extension Master Gardener Online Core Training. $200. Register

Upcoming Illinois Educator Nature Workshops offered by Illinois Department of Natural Resources

Missouri Master Naturalist Program

Only 3 more weeks until we start Leeks & Onions indoors by seed. It’s never too early to start planning your 2024 Garden: Seed St. Louis Planting Calendar

Want a front yard native landscape makeover? Enter Grow Native! and Wild Ones St. Louis Chapter 2024 Landscape Challenge

Good Reads & Views—

Never too soon to start planning your container gardening: Top 10 Veggies to grow in Containers (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Biden Administration Supports Removal of Four Dams on the Snake River. Decommissioning the dams is the first step toward restoring salmon runs and respecting Native treaties. (Sierra Club)

Winter Gardening using Cold Frames and Hotbeds (University of Missouri Extension)

If you’re in 6a-7a zones, there is a ton of useful gardening information available on Seed St. Louis YouTube channel

2023 Plants of Merit – Annuals, Bulbs, Edibles, Perennials, Shrubs, Trees, Vines (Missouri Botanical Garden)

2023 Plants of Demerit – Bamboo, Big Leaf Hydrangea, Blueberry, Burning Bush, Chameleon Plant, Lavender, Pin Oak, Wintercreeper (Missouri Botanical Garden)

Gardening and Nature Events

9 am Tuesday, December 19th, Missouri Conservation Department Guided Walk: The Sights & Sounds of Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood

2 pm Tuesday, December 19th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Creature Feature- River Otter. Register

For Kids Age 5+. 10 am Wednesday, December 20th, Missouri Conservation Department Class at Tower Grove Park: Beginning Birding for Kids. Register

1 pm Wednesday, December 20th, Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Owls of Missouri. Register

4 pm Wednesday, December 20th, Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Challenges and Opportunities forConserving Rare Grassland Plants. Register.

10 am December 29th Missouri Conservation Department Class at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: The Snakes of Powder Valley. 24 Seats remaining. Register

9 am December 30th Missouri Conservation Department family event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center: Ask a Naturalist

4:30 pm December 31st Missouri Conservation Department New Year’s Eve Stroll to the Confluence, Columbia Bottom Conservation Area. 10 Tickets remaining. Register.

8 am January 1st Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 10 Seats remaining. Register

8:30 am January 1st Piasa Sierra Club event: New Years Day Hike @ Pere Marquette State Park, Grafton, Illinois. Register.

10:30 am January 3rd Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Area, Kirkwood: Scavenger Hunt Hike

4 pm January 3rd Missouri Prairie Foundation Webinar: Braided Streams of Thought: Meandering Through Groundwater Discharge, Wetland Plants, and Beaver Complexes. Register

3 pm January 5th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Mammals of MO- Extirpated and Naturalized. Register

8 am January 7th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 10 Seats remaining. Register

10 am to 2:30 pm January 7th Audubon Center at Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri): Eagle Sunday. Register

6 pm January 11th First Seed St. Louis Zoom Class of 2024: Seed Starting. Register

How well do you know Missouri wildlife? 6 pm January 12th Missouri Conservation Department Trivia Night at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center. Register

8 am January 13th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 1. 10 Seats remaining. Register

9 am January 13th Missouri Conservation Department Hiking event at Columbia Bottom Nature Conservation Area: Looking for Treasures in the Winter Woods. 14 Tickets remaining. Register

2 pm January 13th St. Louis Public Library In Person Class @ Carpenter Library: Intro to Plant-spotting- Common St. Louis Flowers & Weeds.

8 am January 14th Missouri Conservation Department In Person Class @ Forest Park Hatchery: Learn to Fish, All About Trout, Lesson 2. 10 Seats remaining. Register

January 15th Deadline for Missouri community gardens, conservation groups, parks, schools to apply for Missouri Prairie Foundation Prairie Garden Grants

11 am January 16th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Event: Attracting Winter Birds. Register

Noon January 18th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Native Plants- Winter Wonderland. Learn about some beautiful showy winter native plants, how to plant them effectively, and winter garden care. Register

Noon January 24th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Missouri Oak. Learn about the 21 Oak species found in various habitats across Missouri. Register

7 pm January 26th Missouri Conservation Department event at Powder Valley Nature Conservation Center, Kirkwood: An Evening with Raptors. Register

10 am January 27th Missouri Conservation Department Zoom Class: Winter Tree ID. Learn how to identify trees by their twigs, fruits, and bark. Register

January 27th thru February 25th Orchid Show at Missouri Botanical Garden. Garden Admission is free to residents of St. Louis City and St. Louis County on Wednesday and Saturday mornings.

9 am to 3 pm February 10th Eagle Days at Audubon Center @ Riverlands (West Alton, Missouri). Register

1 pm February 10th St. Louis Public Library Class @ Central Library: Top 10 Orchids for Home. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

7:30 am to Noon February 23rd Southwest Illinois Grow Native! Workshop with breakfast @ Lewis and Clark Community College, Edwardsville IL: Southwest Illinois Landscape Challenges & Native Plant Solutions. $25 Grow Native! Members, $15 Students, $30 Non-members

February 28th Deadline to apply for Missouri Coalition for the Environment High School Student Environmental Action Award

March 8th-9th Midwestern Herb & Garden Show in Mount Vernon, Illinois (little over an hour drive from St. Louis City)

2 pm April 8th St. Louis Public Library program at Central Library: Plants, Pollen, and Allergies. 35 Seats remaining. Register.

Join us Sundays on Bluesky or Twitter for #GardenSunday to interact with other outdoor and indoor gardeners and nature enthusiasts, ask questions, give answers, share photos.